Pipe-wrench.



W. L. BESSOLO.

PIPE WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. I, 1911. RENEWED MAY 5.1919.

Patented Oct. 7,1919.

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. PIPE WRENCH. H APPLICATION men nzc. I, I917- azuswzu MAY 5.1919.

3 3 l 94? o Patented Oct. 7, 1919.

a I, I INVENTO/r mlfiwaah ITTORNEVS upon and maintains close engagement between the same and the teeth of the flexible jaw, and in connection therewith I provide means whereby the operator may, Without releasing the handle 11, pull the catch member 13 toward the head and away from the engaged portion of the flexible jaw so as to free the latter. The means described consists of a catch adjusting member 22 in the form-of a plate extending along one side of the head end of the shank 10 and provided intermediate its ends with a longitudinal slot 23, through which 'slot the screw or other fastening member 24: extends into the material of the shank 10 so as to limit relative longitudinal movement of the member 22, the outer end of the latter of which projects outwardly beyond the head 12 and has a hook shaped extremity 25 engaging the free end of the catch member 13, utilizing the last tooth of the latter for this purpose. The inner end of the adjusting member 22 has an angular outstanding portion 26 forming a thumb piece, by means of which the operator grasping the handle may readily move the adjusting member 22 toward him and thus retract the catch member 13 from engaged position.

According to the form shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9, the shank 10 has a handle 11? and a head 12 at one side of the latter of which the catch member 13 is pivoted, and the arms 18 at one end of the movable jaw 17 are longitudinally slotted as at 16 and adjustably connected to the head 12 by a transverse connecting member 15 through the slots thereof. The inner portions of the arms 18 and the link of the jaw 17 as well as the end arm 1 L are toothed, and the outerportion of arm 11" is also toothed to coact with the catch member 13 as in the previously described constructions.

It is obvious'from the foregoing that my invention provides a wrench which may be readily manipulated in use, which consists of minimum parts, and which will be inexpensive to manufacture.

I claim:

1. A wrench comprising a shank having a handle at oneend and an enlarged'head at, its opposite end, a catch member extending transversely of the head and provided with an outer toothed surface, a pair of spaced side links pivotally connected at their inner ends toone side of the said headed shank, and a flexible jaw pivotally connected to the outer ends of the said links, said jaw including a plurality of flexibly connected sections having inner toothed gripping sur-- faces and provided along their outer surfaces with teeth for engagement with the teeth of the catch member, said catch 1nemher being pivotally connected atone end to the shank head, a spring upon which the opposite end of the catch-member bears, and an adjusting member mounted on the shank and engaging the free end of the catch memher, said adjusting member being shiftable longitudinally of the shank to withdraw the catch member from engaged position.

2. A Wrench cdmprisinga shank having a handle at one end and an enlarged head at its opposite end, a catch member extending transversely of the head and provided with an outer toothed surface, a pair of spaced side links pivotally connected at their inner ends to one side of the said headed shank, a flexible jaw pivotally connected to the outer ends of the said links, said jaw including a plurality of flexibly connected sections having inner toothed gripping surfaces and provided along their outer surfaces with teeth for engagement with the teeth'of the catch member, said catch .member being pivotally mounted at one end adjacent the pivotal connection of the first named links with the head, a spring supported by the head and engaging the free end of the catch member to normally shift the latter away from the shank head, and an adjusting piece mounted along one side of the shank and having a limited movement with respect thereto, said adjusting piece having a hook at its outer end engaging the other end of the said catch member and having an angularly bent thumb piece at its-inner end adjacent the handle of the shank.

WILLIAM LOUIS BESSOLO. 

